"Human."
Chapter 8
"Fire and Ice."
Disclaimer: The only thing I own are Joe Darby, Mr. Kowalski, Cedric Farrell and the small Optimus plushy I keep on my desk, in my room.
#In Mr. Kowalski's office:
You've done it this time, Darby. Jack thought as he tried to sink into his chair, nodding his head shamefully, as he waited for Mr. Kowalski to return. Not only will mom get busted for both the fight and my worsening grades, but Mr. Kowalski asked for my father to come as well. He tensed at the thought of his biological dad.
He may have never encountered the man in person but he knew, from the pictures at home, that Joe Darby was no small male. And he definitely didn't look like that delicate type of dad, one that offered a stern lecture and helpful advice if his child ever got a bad grade.
No.
To Jack, Joe Darby looked more like a typical abusive father. One that beats his children if they get anywhere below grade "B".
"Way the go, Darby." An angry voice said from his left, Jack then turned to glare at the taller individual in the chair, next to him. "Thanks to you, dad will ground me for another week! And no videogames for another two!" Vincent groaned, nursing a black eye.
"Thanks to me? Thanks to ME?!" The younger Darby yelled, getting up from his chair. "In case you don't remember, Vince." He spat. "You were the one who hit me, back at Howard's party!"
"Well you could have just listened to me like you always did, and let me talk to Mary!" The taller boy wasn't going to be worse, he stood up and took a few steps towards Jack.
"First of all, lay of Mary. She doesn't like you that way! Will you finally get that though, that thick skull of yours?! Second of all, I'm sick and tired of being your punching bag! Don't you dare come near me again, or that eye won't be the only thing you're nursing." Jack hoped his threat was enough to convince Vincent that it wasn't worth attacking him, again. Because, if he was honest with himself, the fact that he even got one hit on the bully, was a mere miracle.
Especially when he knew about Vincent's training, with his father.
It was a well-known fact in his school, that Vincent's father was a famous kick-boxer, called Shatter Skull that won the world kick-box completion twice in a row. Vincent never ceased to gloat about his training sessions with the legendary, Cedrick Farrell and that he's being groomed to be the man's heir for the title of best kick-boxer.
The only reason Jack even got to give him that black eye, was because the taller teen was drunk. Normally if he'd try something like this, he'd be left beaten before the last period ended.
Unfortunately for him, Vincent knew perfectly just how big his advantage is, over him.
"That all ya got, Darby?" He asked, cracking his knuckles. "Because my grandma could make up a scarier threat, than-"The young Farrell was cut short by voices from behind the door.
Both Vincent and Jack moved towards the door, to hear better.
"It's a pleasure to finally see a father figure in Jackson's life, Mr. Parkinson." The principal's voice said happily. "The poor boy grew up without a father in his life, so it's good to know Ms. Darby found a good replacement."
But before the next voice had the chance to answer, a loud bang echoed form the other side as the entrance door banged, bouncing of the next wall.
Jack flinched at the sound there was no doubt who entered the school halls, it was confirmed by Vincent's triumphant smile.
"Where is that, boy?!" Cedrick Farrell yelled from the other side of the door. "This is the third time he's got my son into a fight! Mr. Kowalski, this is getting out of control! I demand this boy to be suspended!"
That moment Vincent managed to crook the door open a bit and Jack could see who his, supposed, "Foster father" looked like. And, boy was surprised with what he got.
The man was like Mr. Farrell's height, had raven-black hair and sharp blue eyes. He was no wimp too, his muscles looked just as big as the kick-boxer champion's.
I do not think this situation requires such drastic measures." The stranger said in Jack's defense, in a voice the boy could recognize anywhere. "A simple week of detention should be enough."
That voice… Jack though, eyes wide. It couldn't be...
The minute those words left the stranger's mouth, Cedrick was already in his face.
"Oh, so you're the brat's daddy, eh?" The distance between the two large males, enclosed drastically and Jack could tell that the Kick-boxing master was looking for a fight. "Well, aren't you the perfect father. Allowing your son to beat up my Vincent without a reason, during classes?!"
"I do not know why the fight begun, or what you were told by your son." The blue eyed stranger answered calmly, his unnaturally colored eyes narrowing to slits. "But I do know, Jack. And he would never attack a fellow classmate, without being provoked." He folded his large arms on his chest and his eyes became colder by the minute. "Perhaps you're the one being lied to, by your son."
That minute, Jack didn't have any doubt that the person posing as his 'foster father' was indeed, Optimus Prime.
Even though he still had a lot of questions swimming in his brain (like: Why is Prime a human?!) all he could focus on right now, was the silent battle between Optimus and Mr. Farrell.
If he had to describe it in a few words, he'd say it looked like a battle between Fire and Ice.
On one hand stood the humanized Autobot Leader, glaring coldly at his adversary. Arms folded protectively over his chest, looking tall and unyielding. His glare cold enough to freeze lava.
On the opposite side was Mr. Farrell, shaking with hot rage. His brown eyes sparkling with the fires of hell, hands clinched into fists and ready to strike.
The room was completely silent. Even Mr. Kowalski kept quiet, not wanting to get between the two angry giants.
Jack knew Optimus well enough, to know that he'll not back away from the challenge. Especially when Vincent's father just accused him (Jack) of attacking the taller boy, which he knew wasn't true. All the humanized Autobot wanted, was for the aggressive man to back of and calm down.
Cedrick Farrell was a completely different story. He just wanted a fight and, after seeing that the man before him didn't shake in fear at the mere sight of him, he saw Prime as a worthy opponent.
Suddenly, the kick-boxer smiled.
Optimus seamed to know what that means, because the cold aura around him turned even colder.
"I do not wish to fight you." He said, his baritone low and dangerous.
"To bad." Farrell said though gritted teeth. "I was just about to take this outside."
"Now, now, gentlemen." The principal said in a shaky voice. "No need to start a fight."
But the aggressive man was beyond talking. "Outside. Now." After saying those words, he left the office.
Jack half hoped the Autobot leader would follow and kick the warrior's butt, but the more rational side of him wished that Prime would ignore the challenge and stay.
But, to his surprise, Optimus sighted and with a somewhat sad look on his face, followed the enraged man outside. There was no use in ignoring the kick-boxer. He'd just attack when they left the office.
When he left, Jack could see the triumphant look on Vincent's face.
"Your dad is going down." He said with a smug smile.
JA107: Now don't you give me that 'Those-situation's-don't-happen-in-real-life' look! I've seen a lot of parents ready to get into a fight to protect their young. Even when the child is lieing. And Mr. Farrell just happened to be an aggressive, hot-headed, easy angered, kick-boxer that is feared by everybody. Nobody ever dared to stand up to him, and well, when a fellow warrior like Optimus comes along, he just had to see what the guy's made of. Besides, what better way to get rid of 'Vincent problem's' than by showing him that his undefeatable dad, actually can get defeated?
PS: If you're wondering where June is, she went to talk with Jack's teachers and sent Optimus ahead to meet the principal.
PPS: Cedrick Farrell is NOT what he seams.
